“Frew? What are we doing here? This is insane!”

He glanced at her, then locked his gaze on the balcony above, staring hard. “Zarina, we’re going to do this, alright? You and I, together. We’re going to take down Crowther. We’re going to kill him. You and I.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her long dark hair waver as she shook her head. “How? He’s already slain everyone we came here with! We know now that it’s not just a legend, Frew! No weapon wielded by man or woman can harm him. He’s protected by dark magick! What are we going to do to him?”

His full attention still focused on the stone balcony, he replied, “I’ve got an idea. I’m positive it’ll work. When it does, our people will be rid of Crowther once and for all.”

“He’s plundered our village, stolen our goods to live on and our people to be his slaves for so many years… You and I have never even known a time without Crowther’s rule. What will it be like without him?”

Frew smiled grimly. “Let’s find out.” He stood, rising from behind the pile of stone rubble he and Zarina hid behind, grabbing his ash bow, nocking an arrow. He was careful not to step in the small fire that burned there, one of many scattered around the battlefield surrounding the tyrant’s castle. “Crowther! Some of us are still alive out here! This fight isn’t over!”

Zarina’s eyes went wide. “You’re going to get us killed! We already know arrows have no effect on him! We should run! We should go home and let people know we’ve failed here. We need to prepare! You know Crowther is going to want reprisal for this!”

Ignoring her protests, Frew shouted again, firing his arrow at the stone balcony. It struck one of the wide, angled wooden beams that supported its weight.

“See? The balcony is too high up, Frew! The angle is too much! You’re not even going to hit Crowther when he comes out! Not that it’ll matter if you do!” She started to rise.